Prophet VS | There Will Be Modulation

Published on Jan 16, 2019 Alex Ball

"The Prophet VS from 1986 is one of the most sought after of the original Sequential instruments. They only made 1,500 of the keyboard versions and around 500 of the rack mounts. I was very fortunate to be able to borrow one.

I talked about this synth in my documentary "The History of the Prophet Synthesizer", but the (great) demo was done by Marko at Retro Sound and I'd never actually seen one in the flesh myself.

If you don't know, designed by Chris Meyer, Josh Jeffe and Tony Dean; the VS is basically a digital synthesizer with an analogue filter and VCA. The sound generation is through a wavetable style approach with 127 different waveforms being available on each of the 4 oscillators. As this 80s tech, the single waves had to spread spread across the keyboard which results in some cool aliasing.

Once you've setup up your combination, you can ride between them in real time with the joystick on the top left of the instrument.

It also has a 7 source / 7 destination mod matrix, two LFOs, stereo chorus with independent switching, split, link and double keyboard modes, an arpeggiator, 99 memory slots, midi and aftertouch. The latter is infamous for going wrong due to two different design flaws with the voltage level and the instrument bending.

Interestingly, the envelopes are setup with stages 0-4 and can loop between stages 1-3 if you wish them to.

Chris Meyer has documented the whole story of the instrument here: https://learningmodular.com/the-story...

Whilst I dove in and started finding textural soundscapes, bell tones and peculiar atmospheres, I was most taken back by the very analogue-style sounds it could create. But, with the stereo movement you get from the instrument, the sounds still have something very "VS" about them. I dubbed it a "straddler" in my mind; a synth that has its feet in quite different camps.

I followed my nose, which seems the way to approach the VS and this is the result. I hope you enjoy it."

Sequential Circuits PROPHET 600 | Ambient Chillout Music Soundscape 【SYNTH DEMO】

Published on Jan 16, 2019 synth4ever

"Sequential Circuits Prophet 600 ambient synthesizer demo -- playing a relaxing ambient chillout music soundscape on Prophet 600 synth from Sequential Circuits.

This ambient / new age synthesizer music features Prophet 600 pads created using the Sequential Circuits Prophet 600 synth + Strymon El Capistan delay effect pedal."

CASIO CZ-101 PD Synthesizer (1984) RetroSound Soundscapes part1

Published on Jan 16, 2019 RetroSound

"(c) 2019 vintage synthesizer demo by RetroSound

The CASIO CZ-101 Phase Distortion Synthesizer is from the year 1986. The sound character is typical for PD synthesis, a bit FM like but more warm.

This demo shows some self-made PD sounds.

CZ-101 spec:
8 voices; Oscillators: 2 per voice (DCO, DCW, DCA); Keyboard: 49 mini-keys without velocity and aftertouch; Memory: 16 preset, 16 user, 16 external cartridge; MIDI; Date: 1986"

Inside a TAMA Techstar TS305-6

Some pics in via jph, listed here.

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FORMANTA MINI - VINTAGE SOVIET POLY KEYTAR SYNTHESIZER

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"Up for sale is an EXTREMELY RARE soviet poly synthesizer-keytar 'FORMANTA MINI'. It is a portable polyphonic 8-voiced analog\digital hybrid synthesizer with microprocessor control (KR-580) & 32 unique and powerfull programmed timbres "presets". There is a vibrato effect with depth & frequency control & "unison" effect. FORMANTA-MINI is a polyphonic synthesizer, you can play 8 voices at one time. It features a unique set of electronic parts, reliable keyboard (41 notes C-E) made in magnetically controlled contacts; synthesis modules consist of independent boards, which is convenient for maintenance. Also, a nice '1980s futuristic' look!"

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Elby Designs ASM Assembler Strat 1 Patchable Modular Synthesizer

via this auction

You can find a demo of one here, and some additional pics of one here.

"ASSEMBLER STRAT 1
PATCHABLE SYNTHESIZER

WORKS ON 22OV

Specifications :
1 x Midi to CV
2 x Midi Thru Outs
2 x VCO,
2 x VCF (1 x State Variable, 1 x Low-pass Transistor),
2 x VCA,
2 x VCLFO,
2 x ADSR,
1 x Glide Generator,
1 x Ring Modulator,
1 x Analogue Noise Generator,
1 x Sample & Hold.
1 x Mixer for the 2 VCA's"

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Roland V-SYNTH VERSION 2 Keyboard Synthesizer

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via this auction

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Roland Juno-106 Keyboard Synthesizer SN 513274

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via this auction

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New Nozoid Thomas Chaotic Attractor & De Jong Eurorack Modules

thomas chaotic attractor from Nozoid on Vimeo.

"demo of the Thomas module of the nozori 84"


XY jong LFO from Nozoid on Vimeo.

"XY output of the "jong LFO" module"

Nozoid CV precision demonstration

CV precision demonstration from Nozoid on Vimeo.

"This video is a proof that the nozori CV are accurate enough to track a pitch over 10 octaves.

What you see in this video is :

- a VCO on the left of the rack that is used as a reference frequency. It output a saw waveform, displayed on the bottom of the oscilloscope screen.

- a 2nd VCO, in the middle of the rack with a frequency controlled by a SQ-1. The SQ-1 is configure to play only 1 step, with a CV range of 1 octave. The VCO output a square wave, displayed on the top of the oscilloscope screen.

- both oscilloscope voice are synchronized to VCO 2: when they are not in sync the VCO 1 voice move quickly.

- at 0'27", I tune the VCO 1 to by in sync with VCO 2

- starting at 0'39", I change the note on the SQ-1 : the 2 VCO are not at sync anymore

- the synchronisation is back at 0'47" when I put back the correct note in the SQ-1

- latter in the video, I play more with the SQ-1 pitch, going up and going down. When back in the middle, the 2 VCO are in sync.

This prove the great precision of the CV control and the absence of hysteresis.

With 12 bits controlling 10 octaves, the precision of a bit is about 3 cents."